As a volunteer docent at San Antonio Missions National Historic Park, I have the pleasure of meeting visitors from throughout the world. Many are from other states, coast to coast. On a single day last week, I spoke with travelers from Italy, France, Germany, the Ukraine and Taiwan.

Almost unanimously, their feelings range from: “The Alamo is so disappointing” to “I wish we'd scheduled more time here” (at the missions of the national park) to “These missions are spectacular; too bad the Alamo isn't like this.”

With application for World Heritage status, San Antonio has (another) chance to get it right, to, in Mr. Foreman's words, abandon mediocrity and “join the league of great cities” with “... a new world-class interpretation of the Alamo's history.”

San Antonio is, without a doubt, a great tourist city because of the Alamo and the missions and the River Walk and our fabulous Mexican flavor of life.

I was born in Oklahoma City, and although my hometown built a river walk, I have never been compelled to visit it when I go back.

In the same way, I doubt that anyone from California will come here to see or ride our streetcars. The same holds true for building a Statue of Liberty or stone pyramids.

If San Antonio is to remain a star tourist attraction, it must remain uniquely San Antonio. Copycatting other cities only makes us look foolish.

Bob Kindred

White elephant

Why is the mayor so anxious to develop a streetcar system? Is he trying to leave a legacy like the Alamodome, a white elephant?

We had streetcars years ago. We should find out why they were done away with before getting a new one. I believe a streetcar line will not make any money but rather cost us tax dollars.

Harvey Sparks

Spoiled yet practical

Re: “French lesson,” Your Turn, Sept. 14:

The letter was “spot-on.”

I, too, have recently traveled to several foreign cities, including Amsterdam, Sydney, Dublin and Oslo. I used their wonderful various modes of public transportation. I have also used public transportation in New York, Seattle, San Francisco, Chicago and Miami.

The primary difference I see in our systems is that, for almost half the year, our temperatures are such that I would not want to walk in the heat to a “stop,” then stand outside in the heat waiting for a bus or a streetcar. By the time I reached my destination, I would be a sweaty, wrinkled mess!

Bicycles were in abundance in Amsterdam, but they didn't have to dodge drunk drivers or large SUVs and trucks. People walk to and from their neighborhood pubs.

I would ride public transportation in San Antonio if terminals had air conditioning, and one could step into the air-conditioned vehicle.

Spoiled, yes, but realistic.

Nancy Powlas

Diplomatic route

What's the difference between 1953 and 2013?

There's a difference of 60 years, of course, not to mention a vast array of modern technology, in addition to alarming social and demographic change. The list is endless.

Perhaps what the two years have most in common is an American populace that is sick and tired of war. Just as Americans were war-weary after World War II and chose not to extend the Korean War beyond its three-year span, Americans today are a war-weary people choosing not to engage in hostilities in Syria after lengthy, questionable military actions in Afghanistan and Iraq.

President Obama's choice to pursue the diplomatic route in Syria is probably the beginning of a renewed era in American diplomacy. The same logic characterized the Eisenhower administration and beyond. It ended in the debacle of the Vietnam War.

Let's hope that Obama's reconstituted diplomacy, as demanded by the American people, will endure and not lead us to the shortsightedness evident in the 1960s.

Russian President Vladimir Putin must have read the Obamacare bill that promises everything but delivers nothing. He offered the same type of deal on Syria. He knew that Obama would identify with it because it bears his fingerprints.

The Obama Democrats promise “a chicken in every pot” but then take the pots from everyone.

Daniel Younger, Itasca

Embarrassing

Re: “Gravel roads,” Your Turn, Sept. 15:

I totally concur with Rebecca Trevino that the idea of gravel roads is “an embarrassment to the state.”

This proposal endangers all drivers who travel these roads. I work in the Eagle Ford Shale, and I am in need of a second windshield replacement in the last 10 months. The dings, cracks and holes in my windshield happened on paved roads. Imagine the damage I will incur if they lay gravel over already pot-holed roads, such as FM469 in LaSalle County.

It is extremely important to get the people in Austin who control the funding of roads in Eagle Ford to spend several hours driving the roads in this area and understand firsthand that gravel will cause more damage to vehicles traveling these roads. They should also consider the many dollars that Eagle Ford has contributed to their coffers in Austin.